Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Butch James' dangerous tackle, and big hit on Stefan Terblanche

Monday, June 13, 2011

Butch James' dangerous tackle, and big hit on Stefan Terblanche

Butch James had a great game on the weekend, all but steering his new side, the Lions, to victory over the visiting Sharks. He slipped up though with a typically Butch-like tackle on flanker Keegan Daniel, meaning he was off the field for ten minutes, allowing the Sharks back into the game.

James, who is back in South Africa to increase his chances of being at the Rugby World Cup, was given a lifeline by the Lions, who now have a solid financial backing and are looking to turn things around in Johannesburg. The flyhalf has certainly made a difference, with the Lions showing the kind of continuity and passion that has been way too sporadic in years gone by.

They almost pulled off the win too, and were up 30-9 at one stage. A host of Sharks substitutions - including the introduction of Frederic Michalak - as well as James being yellow carded meant that a big comeback took place. The game ended 30-30.

James has since been cited for his second half tackle on Keegan Daniel, the tackle that earned him ten minutes on the sideline. Under Law 10.4 (e) for dangerous tackling, James will face a judicial hearing on Wednesday of this week in Johannesburg.

While he's never been a stranger to this type of hit, his general play and perfect goal kicking will be encouraging for the Springboks, and he has been named in their initial World Cup squad.

His discipline in the tackle has always been a problem though, as can be seen here. He did however make another big tackle earlier in the game that was deemed legal, on Stefan Terblanche. You can view both in the playlist below, and decide for yourself if you think a citing and further action is necessary.

Update: 16/06/2011 - James has been suspended for four weeks by SANZAR. The offence was classified as mid-range, and has been deferred (the Lions have a bye) to commence on Monday July 20th, meaning he will be out of all rugby up to 17 July.

First comment: I can handle it!

By Anonymous, at June 13, 2011 2:29 pm
Dammit, second! Close but no cigar.

Nice physical stuff. Pity it was a bit high.

By Guy, at June 13, 2011 3:09 pm
1. Clearly yellow.
2. It's another one of those where the tackler hits so hard, that the runner bounces off him and so he doesn;t get wrapped. I think the second slow mo shows that it was not a shoulder charge and he did attempt to wrap. Close, but I give the benefit of the doubt to the tackler.

The SAffa commentator is the best in the biz.

By jpm, at June 13, 2011 3:15 pm
Love it Butchie! Welcome home son

By Anonymous, at June 13, 2011 3:17 pm
Same old, same old.

He's never going to cut this crap out, but he might still be the best back up to Morne Steyn. He also plays his best rugby alongside Jean de Villiers, maybe that's another reason for him to remain in the frame. Still, there'd better be a plan c if we include him in the rwc squad.

By edbok, at June 13, 2011 3:20 pm
2nd tackle was fine, first not so much :) yellow, maybe 2 weeks because he's done it so often before

By Cheis, at June 13, 2011 3:30 pm
What an Idiot. Send him back to bath for a bath

By Anonymous, at June 13, 2011 4:15 pm
James brain implosions occur with way too much frequency. I recall in the 3N last year, James was involve din two dustups within 5 minutes of being on the field.

By Douglas, at June 13, 2011 4:46 pm
He butchered them...

By Anonymous, at June 13, 2011 4:58 pm
I agree with jpm. First was a clear yellow. Idiotic tackle imo.
Second, definitely don't think it was a shoulder charge. His arms were there, just the force of impact sent the player back so he couldn't be wrapped. Big hit.

By medicaluke, at June 13, 2011 5:12 pm
I guess you could say I 'butchered' my opportunity to write; 1sssst!!
HAHAHA!

By Anonymous, at June 13, 2011 5:41 pm
First was clearly a yellow, but no malice involved (just some bad misjudgement). So no suspension imo.

The second was just solid.

I wonder which Springboks fly half is more boring, Morné or Butch..? Haha just kidding

Cheers

By Juggernauter, at June 13, 2011 6:23 pm
What an awful conclusion to the match....gutted by the Lions losing. Why oh why did I let myself get excited in the first half when they completely dominated the Sharks?

By beef, at June 13, 2011 8:39 pm
this is yet another reason why Lambie is clearly the best back up Springbok fly-half, Lambie for RWC 2011!

By Anonymous, at June 13, 2011 9:12 pm
Lambie has good potential as does elton janties but their not ready for this world cup - their time will come.

Devasted that Butch was welcomed back to Durban instead of that blerrie Michalak.

Drop Daniel for Deysel!

Anyway welcome home Butch James

By SharkAttack, at June 13, 2011 9:49 pm
not welcomed back to Durban i mean't

apologises

By SharkAttack, at June 13, 2011 9:50 pm
typical butch. only knows how to tackle by wrapping his arm round peoples necks. glad to see him out the premiership.

By Anonymous, at June 13, 2011 9:52 pm
WTF is wrong with you guys, you call yourselves rugby players, or at least fans.

Why is it the South African players are always blown up for these sorts of things when its not that bad. I'd never in a million years given a yellow for that.

The rest of the rugby world needs to toughen up before the world cup or we'll wipe the floor with you wimps!

By Anonymous, at June 13, 2011 11:28 pm
Last anon...the referee, Mark Lawrenece (who happens to be one of the best in the world, along with Craig Joubert, in my opinion), happens to be South African (they both are, oddly enough). As is the player who was high-tackled. So I'm not sure who needs to toughen up.

Did you even watch the game and listen to Lawrence's explanation?

Yeah, some of these comments are blowing the situation out of proportion a little bit, but it's hardly anything for you to get all offended over.

By rolling my eyes, at June 13, 2011 11:50 pm
1. high
2. good clean big hit

why on earth is he being cited, so what it was a high tackle, surely he isn't going to get banned for a few weeks just for that.

Can't be bothered t comment about some of the stupid comments above.

By Anonymous, at June 14, 2011 12:11 am
There is 1 pretty important talking point that's been missed when assessing Butch James. The videos show 2 incidents that happened over 2 seconds in an 80 minute match. Regardless of what anyone thinks of the videos, the remainder of the match was unbelievable, James was key in the Lions domination till he was sent off. If James plays like that for the Lions imagine him behind the Springbok pack. The man is half god.

By Anonymous, at June 14, 2011 10:10 am
A deft touch, experience, vision, kicking from hand, kicking for poles, physicality on defense and attack, not to mention one of the best passers of the rugby ball in the world. If he gets a half descent run of fitness and keeps himself out of trouble he could be remembered as one of the best.

By Anonymous, at June 14, 2011 10:16 am
The issue most citing boards will have is that Butch has a long run of previous 'issues' in the tackle.

I remember that 3N match las year where he came on for the last 20 and got yellowed in 5 and in that match the ref had let a few on the edge tackles slide. He seems to have a complete brain fart if his team are down or under pressure.

It's a shame because he is a great 10 and is probably a little better ball in hand than Steyn, but he'll never be first choice due to Steyn's kicking and his temper.

By Anonymous, at June 14, 2011 10:17 am
RD: please can you stop putting these videos in playlists, as i like to visit RD.com on my iPod touch and cannot view the videos if they are in playlists. Thanks :)

By Anonymous, at June 14, 2011 11:50 am
Best flyhalf in the rwc 07, haters gonna hate.

By Anonymous, at June 14, 2011 12:24 pm
Butch was the reason the Lions had a chance of winning... he was on fire.

By Anonymous, at June 14, 2011 12:26 pm
'Best flyhalf in the rwc 07, haters gonna hate.'

Lol, in all honesty, I didnt even realise he played in the rwc.... obviously made a massive impression...

By Anonymous, at June 14, 2011 7:03 pm
'Best flyhalf in the rwc 07, haters gonna hate.'

haters gonna hate...

brown nosers gonna brown nose...

By Anonymous, at June 14, 2011 7:04 pm
He's got a World Cup medal in his closet. Which other flyhalf can say that? Dan? Quade? Whoever the England flyhalf is?

Just saying.

By katman, at June 14, 2011 8:18 pm
His days are over. We have enough fly halves for the world cup any way. Why they even want to consider him for the boks is beyond belief. He will cost us the world cup if he plays like that!!

By Anonymous, at June 14, 2011 9:26 pm
Rather have him than Steyn, but those brainfarts are a real problem.

Although if ever there were a time to throw Lambie in at the deep end, this Tri Nations would be it!

By Laz, at June 14, 2011 10:35 pm
"katman said...
He's got a World Cup medal in his closet. Which other flyhalf can say that? Dan? Quade? Whoever the England flyhalf is?

Just saying."

Is that Wilkinson you were looking for? Yes he can.

By Anonymous, at June 14, 2011 11:01 pm
Butch James is a tool

By olwakachangchang, at June 15, 2011 1:11 am
lol, katman, nice joke trying to pretend you don't know who wilkinson is....

let me guess..wilkinson in his prime would never get into the SA team ¬_¬

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2011 1:44 am
Yeah anon, you actually have to watch the Springbok games if you're going to notice if Butch was playing. Under Eddie Jones he was sublime. I feel silly though.. I'm reasoning with an obvious retard.

Katman was talking about Flood - current Eng flyhalf. Wilkinson is an old turd now.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2011 7:54 am
hahahah Butch James is older than Wilko

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2011 8:06 am
But he's not a turd. He makes age look like class.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2011 9:50 am
a polished turd then

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2011 10:48 am
Well katmans comment is crap then.... Why only take into account the 2007 WC? "Yeh which other fly half can say he has a 2007 rwc medal?"

Shouldnt that be the statement. Because I'm pretty sure every fly half that played for a winning world cup team has a medal....

Wilkinson is better than butch any day. Ofcourse you don't want a fly half that can only kick (if you can help it) but hy get a fly half that cant kick for shit...LOL

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2011 4:06 pm
Butch James was as anonymous in the 2007 RWC final as I am!

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2011 4:09 pm
Ja, ja. of course I meant "which other current international flyhalf has a WC medal?" And the answer, of course, is no one.

Wilko is like Navratilova. Boy, she was good once, and I think she still plays somewhere...

By katman, at June 15, 2011 10:22 pm
Well Katman that was a pretty dumb comment....

And just to illustrate how dumb it was...

Jonny Wilkinson is a current international, he played in the 6 nations in 2011.... therefore he can lay claim to having a world cup medal in his closet..

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2011 11:06 pm
How is it possible for a flyhalf to be anonymous in a world cup final... they're the most important player on the field.... Butch almost scored what would have been the only try of the game.

By Anonymous, at June 16, 2011 12:18 am
I'm sick of reading these bitter and childish comments, from both sides. Move on, comment on the actual video or match, or dont comment at all.

Thanks

By GMC, at June 16, 2011 10:56 am
WOW! A four week suspension?!

By medicaluke, at June 16, 2011 1:47 pm
Even with his past history, 4 weeks is excessive. And how the jackasses decided that was a mid-level offence is completely beyond comprehension.

By edbok, at June 16, 2011 2:12 pm
i hope P divvy picks bucth james this tri nation we can see some yellow cards

By Anonymous, at June 16, 2011 4:18 pm
Seen worse go unpunished. 4 weeks seems a bit harsh.

By Anonymous, at June 17, 2011 12:03 pm
Same old with the cheap shots.

By Anonymous, at June 17, 2011 1:32 pm